lots of problems with how they teach kids water safety... two massive rescue efforts in a 3 month span..director stu says no need to call 911.....lol the kids were in the middle of the lake and scared..what other reason would there be stu!????
Did not like it. Food was bad. Staff made me feel uncomfortable. Had to sleep on the bare ground in a tent, no pillow. Plauged by nighmares to this day.
My children love this camp! They have attended this camp for 4 year and they can't wait to go back!
The counselors are fantastic - caring, trained, safe and engaged. The activities are fun and challenging. They develop leadership skills, team building skills, gratitude and an appreciation for others.
The camp has an old-fashioned, traditional feel with lots of water and outdoor activities and the curriculum includes amazing activities and skill development that will help the kids as they grown into adults. They learn boating skills, go hiking, climb high-ropes, create crafts, sleep in tents and cabins, sing, play, and create memories.
One of my favourite things about the camp is how kind my children are to each other when they return. They are helpful at home, aware of the needs of family members and kind to others. They return thinking about their future and their potential. They are motivated to make a difference in the world.
My kids even love the food! Our 14 year-old son rarely stops eating and he was never hungry. Our more picky eater was equally happy and loved the options.
Overall, this place is a rare find and we drive for hours to get there every year. Our children love it, we appreciate and enjoy the sense of community and we'll be participating for many years to come.
Highly recommended. Love it!
My nephew raves about this camp. He grew from attending it to becoming a camp director. He's had great experiences.
Ahh the great outdoors!
Plenty to do for our youth's and getting them away from Technology, even if it's only for a short while.
Our kids have gone a few years in a row now. The fact that they want to go back should tell you something. The staff seem to bond well with the campers and Ash Bear is great. Also, some really fun activities make me want to go to camp!
Gorgeous camp with the most caring staff on the planet. Love YLCC.
When deciding which camp to send our child to, I did A LOT of research and it always pointed me back to YLCC.
It has great values and this camp strives to bring out the best in every camper, thus Move you to Fly They show each and every camper that they are special with their own unique gifts and to embrace what they ve been given enabling them to be more confident and focused to strive for the goals they want to set out for themselves and to have the strength to accomplish this within themselves.
My first child could barely leave my side when she first went to the camp. She would NEVER do overnight visits with her friends unless it was in her own home. We packed her up for camp with every intention that we would end up driving back at some point to get her as she would be so homesick that she would drive the poor camp personnel half mad.. to our absolute astonishment, not only did she last the week that summer, she asked to stay another week.. this went on for 5 weeks!! Her first year of camp ended up being 6 weeks long!! She not only came back a happy kid, but she came back with confidence and goals that she set for herself. We cannot thank Stu Saunders, David ORNJ Graham and staff enough for what they did for our daughter!! It brings tears to my eyes thinking that they played such an integral part in the upbringing of our daughter. We consider YLCC our extended family for always being such a positive influence for our daughter and our family.
Fast forward a few years... we had our children 10 years apart. We just dropped off our youngest today and I see her growing in confidence in herself and relationships just as our oldest daughter had from her summer camp experiences with YLCC. They are again an integral part of our children s lives. I see my very shy child explode with more confidence amongst her camp family. It makes me proud to see her grow into a confident person who has goals she is focusing on. Thanks to YLCC for showing her she is amazing and that she is capable of anything she can set her mind to!! This is our youngest daughters 6th year at the camp and like her sister, she plans on eventually working there when she gets older.
It takes a village to raise a child as the saying goes.. well we consider YLCC a huge population of our village...
Amazing staff. Super enthusiastic and know their stuff. Best I have seen at any camp.
Been going to this camp for 11 years this summer and it is quite possibly the greatest place I've ever been to in my life. No jokes.
I discovered YLCC when I attended a leadership/fun team building day with my place of employment in the spring of 2017. I was so impressed with the facilitation skills of the staff! They were much younger than most of us attending and were able to motivate our group and demonstrated such professionalism and positivity. At the end of the session, I asked for a brochure/course calendar. This was exactly the environment of a summer camp that I wanted for my two girls.
My oldest daughter will be attending for her 3rd year and my youngest daughter and neice for their first time in 2019. My husband and I couldn't be more impressed with YLCC. Their staff work from sun-up to sun-down to make the most of every day with the kids. My oldest daughter has blossomed each year she has attended and her younger sister can't wait to attend after hearing all about camp and witnessing the impactful graduation ceremonies.
I've read some of the negative comments regarding the YLCC facilities and accommodations. This is SUMMER CAMP and I couldn't disagree more!! Everything is clean and well kept and SAFE. It is everything camp should be and MORE! Thank you to everyone at YLCC for another wonderful Summer Session!
Our kids love YLCC!! We picked up our six year and five year campers from their two week session yesterday. They have always gone to the last week/s in what is called session D. The stories they share about friendships, experiences, and self awareness get more enthusiastic each year. The planning and countdown for YLCC 2019 has already begun. Thank you again to all the inspirational staff at YLCC for the positive guidance in our "campers" lives.
Hands down, YLCC is the BEST experience our kids have ever had at camp. While our eldest decided a couple of years ago that camp simply wasn t for him, he retains incredibly positive memories of the years he did attend, and sometimes comes back when we drop his younger sibling off. We ve been a YLCC family for over a decade, and our youngest returns year after year because of the positive influence the staff and many of his fellow campers have on his life. This is a camp that welcomes diversity, fosters inclusivity and promotes positivity. The supportive environment helped one of our kids through some difficult years of being considered different and he would be the first to tell people how he was encouraged to simply be himself while at camp. If you want your children to be positive, empathetic, thoughtful role models and leaders - comfortable in their own skin and considerate and tolerant of others - this is the camp for them/you.
My sons first time at overnight camp. At first he kind of said he didnt have that much fun. However, up on further investigation, he admitted that he loved it. The source of the original answer ... he didnt receive letters (emails) from us. That will change next year!
An amazing, amazing, AMAZING experience. Met so many people, all were awesome. Staff is incredibly friendly. An unforgettable experience.
This was my sons first camp experience, I will admit he was clumsy at the start of his 2 weeks with YLCC. My son was going to this camp seeking a validatory experience, we have had a difficult year and validation was necesary. I called YLCC and asked before I registered him if they could handle a camper with his experience. They were positive they could.
I dealt with Stu, the owner of the camp, and Ashley, a senior camp counsellor / manager. After the first few days Stu called me and we spoke about my sons behaviour. The last set of words we exchanged was this,
I agreed with Stu that we wanted a validatory experience for my son.
Stu's response "absolutely, we want to make this as positive as possible for both of you, I've been doing this for 26 years, I want to help kids." I was grateful.
By the end of the first week:
Me: But its been a week, I have texted you everyday for an update, you have texted me back that everything is fine.
On Friday 11th August they asked my son to leave.
Their words when I asked why they didn't call me "we have a lot of campers and can't get in touch with you every time something happens." . Stu describing his behaviour "I can't describe it, but its like he walks around" and then trailed off. This is always upsetting for someone of colour to hear the vagueness of why someone not of colour feels fear or upset. But I wanted this to be a positive experience.
Whenever I asked Ashley, she would describe other children being involved, but it was only my son on the final warnings or me on the end of threats of his expulsion.
My son came home today as they asked and this was his last day,
They told him to pack his things and go to the office immediately to wait for my arrival he would be leaving as soon as I got there. They told him he was not allowed to graduate and he was not allowed to say goodbye to his friends because of this incident. He asked to use the washroom and was told no and was made to sit for 2 hours to wait for me and was told not to move. The incident: some other camper took the bell and hid it.
Ashely calls me clearly upset. She tell me this: "He had nothing to do wth this incident but I had to ask him 6 times before he would tell me what I needed to know, he was disrespectful and you need to come and get him." I simply replied ok, I was on my way anyway.
When they told me to come and get him Ashley's exact words, 'lets end this on a high, let him graduate and have a graduation ceremony and not risk the positive experience." Yet were happy to burst into his cabin, tell him to pack his stuff immediately and sit in the office until I got there. The camper who took the bell, attended the graduation ceremony and experienced no repercussions for his behaviour. His experience was positive when he was with other campers or more junior counsellors, his experience and mine with both Ashley and Stu was negative, and when he was told that I was having these conversations up until Friday he was bitterly saddened. If your child resembles mine in any way then this is not the camp for you.
My Daughter Kyleigh is always ecstatic and is bless at this camp ! Both my self and kyleigh's Mom are very pleased on her over view on the program.
I love YLCC I will not go to any other camp but YLCC!! I can't wait to go back to camp in less then two months!! all the staff are so nice there and you will make such great friends
My son really enjoyed the time he spent at camp. The camp provides everything that the kids need. Friendship, a nurturing positive environment and the ability to be themselves. This camp is electronically dry. A chance for the kids to unplug and reconnect with nature and other kids. A place to learn how to socialize and accept others for who they are. Would highly recommend.
I came here 10 years ago and I am still chasing dreams and goals across Canada that I was inspired to set at YLCC. I m going on a canoe trip this weekend with friends I made at camp. I thrilled and thankful for everything in my life because of Stu, his vision, leadership and the resilience and self motivation I gained from participating at such a magical place
YLCC is the worst camp ever . The camp counselors where very rude especially when they were rolling their eyes while you were talking. Got food poisoning from the food ,also had no taste to it . The cabins where disgusting beds where to small . It got so cold when it came to bed time no heat . The ropes are old and unsafe, The whole experience is boring , The only thing that was fun was the camp fire . I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAMP AT ALL SUCKS LARGE , Go to a real camp.
To begin, I came for my graduation trip with the expectation that I wouldn t be disappointed based off of one of the camp counsellors described on our school s information night. It was too expensive especially for a place as lousy and poorly- maintained as this camp.
The cabins had heating but they weren t warm at all, my cabin mates and I woke up freezing in June. There was no breathing room or space to stretch at all because there were seven bunk beds with no washroom in each cabin. The floors in the cabin weren t even done, you aren t able to walk barefoot because of how disgusting it was. There were insects on the bed and hiding in the wood. There was one big washroom filled with dirty showers and dead mosquitos around every sink. The food wasn t as bad but it was pretty bland. The Tuck Shop could ve had useful things for the campers to use like a poncho in the rain or a towel rather than fill it all up with chocolate, candy etc.The activities were filthy and muddy in the rain, we should ve done some indoor games. Overall it was the worst experience and a waste of money and time. Honestly the long bus drive there was more fun than the camp itself. 2/10
Facilities a little worse for ware but youth programs good.
Going there for a three day event, I'd say it was a great place to have a semi-experience for camping. The activities available, such as high ropes and rock climbing, are fun for mainly amateurs seeing as they weren't difficult unless you're extremely unathelic or scared of heights. The cabins can get pretty dark and cold at times, but that's expected with places like these. The showers are pretty small and in the same areas as the bathroom so it's recommended to bring a swimsuit because it's pretty difficult to get privacy there. Food here was made vegetarian/vegan as well as halal friendly. Finally, this place is an excellent place to go to for team building with co-workers/teamates or bonding with complete strangers.
Nothing fancy when it comes to infrastructure. Certainly could use some upgrades. As for the camp itself my children have attended over the course of mnay years and extremely enjoy the experience. Counsellors for the most part are enthusiastic and make for a great experience for the campers. I would recommend this place as a summer opportunity for your children. Certainly comparable to other summer camps for facility but maybe a step ahead when it comes to atmosphere!!
My son first started going there when he was 7. He had never been away from home for longer than 1 night. I sent him for the week! He had a great time his first year and felt super comfortable there. The counsellors and CIT were amazing with him. He is now going on his fourth year and still loves it. It's a true summer camp experience and stretches him more than i could have imagined. He is beyond being a picky eater and the staff there are always so accommodating taking note of his dietary requirements - there is always something there he loves to eat which puts my mind at ease at home. I love the leadership focus of the camp and love how the kids are encouraged to journal. This camp rocks!!
i have been to ylcc camp 3 times and it was amazing the camp counselors are so nice and funny and helpful i would recommend this to any school for a great trip
The accommodations were terrible and it resembled a concentration camp. The only things that were acceptable was the muffins and the "Batman" lady. There was no heat and plenty of bugs and even a rat in my cabin.
My twins daughters have attended YLCC for three years. They have attended other camps in the past, however none of these camps compare to YLCC. The staff at YLCC is amazing. I had to drop my daughters off late this year and they missed registration. Upon arrival we immediately had staff members greeting us and making the girls feel welcome as though they and not missed a thing. In addition to an amazing staff, the girls also love the wide variety of activities. This year they get to go on a canoe adventure and they are extremely excited. They also comment on the amazing food each summer. They are currently at camp and I can hardly wait for them to get home and hear about their amazing experience. In this day and age, it is so amazing to have a camp where kids find the joy in life from those around them and do not need technology to get that joy. The campers also learn to express gratitude and this amazing lesson follows the girls home. The girls have been fortunate to have many life experiences (travel, competitive sport ect) however this camp was the missing piece! It it evident that the staff at YLCC is a family, and when my daughters are at camp, this is the exact feeling they get. They are not a number, they are a person! It is evident that YLCC was vision and was created the passion and determination. YLCC certainly understands how to create the leaders of tomorrow. Even as a parent, I have learned so much through my daughters. A few years ago, I was able to attend an adult retreat at YLCC in which the owner Stu had invited various speakers. As an educator, I took more away from these speakers than I have in my entire career, which also reiterated for me why it is so important for my daughters to be connected to this camp!! Thank you YLCC from the bottom of my heart for everything you provide!
I cannot possibly put into words how amazing this place is and how fabulous the staff who run it are. I have repeat campers in my family who absolutely could not wait until summer arrived and they got to go to one of their favourite places on earth. The leadership skills attained here will carry them throughout their lives as they make good choices built on the foundations experienced here. The memories are precious. The friendships they formed are lifelong. The self awareness and realization of the things they can offer the world is monumental. The best part for me is seeing them come home with huge smiles and lots of stories yet a wee bit sad that it was over....but only till next the next year!!
Wow I have never had a worse camping experience in all my years of camping. For one the camp resembled a concentration cam[p due to it's lack of animal control. There were spiders everywhere, rodents like rats, and mice infestation the camp. the bed mattress was filled with bed bugs and I thought for sure I was going to be infected with rabies. The counselors were very rude and it we felt like slaves working under a dictator. Instead of doing fun team building activities, we chopped down trees for a whole day and it felt like I was at a GULAG.
Our school has been going to YLCC for our Student Council Leadership retreat each spring for over a decade now. The main reasons we keep going back are the fantastic counsellors (who are great role models for what we want our student leaders to be), the quality activities and facilities, and the chance to build team and learn important leadership lessons. Stu and Ash really believe in building the youth leaders of the future.
I have also had several occasions to be part of their summer camp experience as well. The energy and enthusiasm from the staff and campers there is incredible! And I am always impressed by the number of campers that come back again and again. They obviously do a lot of things right!
We came here for our grade 8 grad trip, and here's my feedback:
Things the camp could improve on/complaints:
~ maybe having actual janitors to clean the washroom/keep the washroom a bit more sanitary- bugs litter the ground, there are mosquitos on the sinks + hand dryers, the showers are absolutely disgusting.
~ having clocks in the cabins + dining hall- we would be told to meet back at the flagpole in 30 mins, but we wouldn't be able to tell the time since basically no one has a watch, and we're not supposed to bring our phones.
~ I wish the other food options had a little more care put into them- the halal option for the chicken burgers was chicken wings, but the wigs were literally just fat, I had to dig to find meat, which is kind of embarrassing.
~ I also wished there were more staff of colour, especially chefs- it adds more varieties of flavour, and makes food of different cultures more authentic (I found it ridiculous how butter chicken is a Desi meal, but most Desi's couldn't even eat that meal served since it wasn't Halal. It was disappointing since I've been eating North American food the entirety of my stay, and the one chance I think I get to eat food of my culture, I can't)
~ apparently there was heating in the cabins, but it was freezing the whole time- yes we had layers, but I didn't think the heating was going to be that bad.
~ selling more useful emergency materials at the Tuck Shop- like towels/compressed towels, band aids, toothbrushes + toothpastes, maybe keepsakes like key-chains/magnets (kind of like a gift shop + convenience store)
Things I liked at the camp:
~ the food wasn't all that bad
~ the activities were fun, but we would've had a better experience if it didn't rain.
~ the staff weren't rude to me like other people said, and I enjoyed their enthusiasm
~ I liked the systems- the bell ringing to signal everyone to meet up, and how they had us line up outside the dining hall to tell us about the meal and different options available.
ylcconline.com
